Browsing by Author "Kowalczyk, Mariusz"

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    Antiaging Properties of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Ethanol Extract—Ex Vivo and In Vitro Studies
    (MDPI, 2024-11-25) Stefanowicz-Hajduk, Justyna; Nowak, Anna; Hering, Anna; Kucharski, Łukasz; Graczyk, Piotr; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Sulikowski, Tadeusz; Muzykiewicz-Szymańska, Anna
    Species of the genus Kalanchoe have a long history of therapeutic use in ethnomedicine, linked to their remarkable medical properties. These species include Kalanchoe blossfeldiana succulents, which grow in tropical regions. Despite the great interest in this plant, there are no reports about its therapeutic effects on the skin. In this study, the antioxidant properties of K. blossfeldiana ethanol extracts and the skin permeation of a topical hydrogel containing the extract (HKB) were assessed. Additionally, the content of active compounds in the K. blossfeldiana extract was evaluated by UHPLC-MS and HPLC-UV. The extract was analyzed with three antioxidant assays: ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP. Furthermore, the antielastase and antihialuronidase properties of the tested extract were assessed. Ex vivo penetration studies were performed using the Franz diffusion cells. The estimation of the cytotoxicity of HKB was performed by using an MTT assay ((4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) on the human fibroblasts HFF-1. The results obtained show that the antioxidant properties of K. blossfeldiana extract were similar to those of ascorbic acid, while antielastase and antihialuronidase tests indicated the strong antiaging and anti-inflammatory activity of the extract (IC50 was 26.8 ± 0.13 and 77.31 ± 2.44 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, active ingredients contained in K. blossfeldiana extract penetrated through the human skin and accumulated in it. The cytotoxicity test showed that HKB had no significant effect on human bibroblasts at a concentration up to 0.5%. In conclusion, the hydrogel containing the K. blossfeldiana extract can be considered as an interesting and new alternative to dermatologic and cosmetic preparations.
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    Bufadienolide Penetration Through the Skin Membrane and Antiaging Properties of Kalanchoe spp. Juices in Dermal Applications
    (MDPI, 2025-02-09) Hering, Anna; Cal, Krzysztof; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Kastsevich, Alina; Ivashchanka, Yahor; Ochocka, J. Renata; Stefanowicz-Hajduk, Justyna
    Skin aging is accelerated by inflammation processes generated by oxidative stress and external factors such as UV radiation. Plants belonging to the genus Kalanchoe that are rich sources of antioxidants could potentially strengthen the skin barrier if used as ingredients in cosmetic formulations. However, their use is limited due to the contents of bufadienolides, known cardiotoxins. This study aimed to establish a semi-quantitative profile of bufadienolides in the juices of K. blossfeldiana, K. daigremontiana, and K. pinnata using UHPLC combined with charged aerosol detection (CAD) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). Additionally, the study determined the ability of bufadienolides to penetrate the skin barrier using the Bronaugh Diffusion Cell Apparatus and Strat-M membrane. The study also assessed the ferric and molybdenum-reducing powers, as well as the radical scavenging capabilities of these plants juices using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) methods. The in vitro antihyaluronidase and antityrosinase activities and sun protection factor (SPF) were evaluated spectrophotometrically, indicating moderate capability to inhibit the skin enzymes, but low SPF protection for all analyzed juices. The semi-qualitative analysis demonstrated the presence of bufadienolides occurring in two juices from K. daigremontiana and K. pinnata, with the highest contents of 1,3,5-bersaldegenin-orthoacetate, bryophyllin-A/bryotoxin-C, bersaldegenin-acetate/bryophyllin-C, and diagremontianin. After passing through the skin model, no bufadienolide compounds were present in the subcutaneous filtrate. Antiradical and reduction assays revealed the antioxidant potential of K. blossfeldiana and K. pinnata. These results indicate that Kalanchoe juices have antiaging potential and appear safe for dermal applications.
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    pH-dependent separation and identification of saponins from Beta vulgaris L. using high-speed countercurrent chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.
    (Elsevier, 2026-02-22) Tekieli, Anna; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Wybraniec, Sławomir; Spórna-Kucab, Aneta
    This study investigated the saponins from Beta vulgaris L. cv. Cylindra roots using a combination of semi-preparative high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) and ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS). A new solvent system was developed for the HSCCC purification of saponins under varying pH conditions (3, 5, and 7), which significantly affected their separation. The solvent system consisted of 1-butanol, acetone, acetonitrile, and citrate-phosphate buffer (1.0:0.1:0.05:0.8; v/v/v/v). The pH adjustment in HSCCC noticeably affected separation efficiency, with higher pH values generally leading to faster elution. The separation behavior of saponins depended primarily on the type, number, and arrangement of sugar substituents. In the HSCCC system, compounds bearing more sugar residues tend to be eluted earlier because their greater hydrophilicity enhances interactions with the mobile phase. Despite this overall trend, saponins containing terminal hexose or pentose units were eluted later, indicating that such sugars can significantly extend elution time. Additionally, saponins featuring dioxolane moieties showed a particularly strong pH dependence, with pH adjustments causing reversible shifts in the elution order of isomeric pairs. Ten predominant saponins, including the highly concentrated betavulgaroside IV and betavulgaroside III, were quantified with high accuracy using UHPLC single bond-HRMS/MS. The total saponin content in Cylindra was found to be 7.2 g/kg dry extract (DE), significantly higher than previously reported for other B. vulgaris cultivars. Additionally, the study identified 47 saponins, including the novel aglycone norhederagenin (m/z 455.31), thus expanding the phytochemical profile of beetroot.
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    Phytochemical Profiling, Anti-Inflammatory Action, and Human Gut Microbiota-Assisted Digestion of Rheum officinale Petiole and Root Extracts—An In Vitro Study
    (MDPI, 2025-11-01) Liudvytska, Oleksandra; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Krzyżanowska-Kowalczyk, Justyna; Michaś, Karolina; Michalak, Maria; Balcerczyk, Aneta; Skowrońska, Weronika; Równicki, Marcin; Bazylko, Agnieszka; Olszewska, Monika A.; Kolodziejczyk-Czepas, Joanna
    Background/Objectives: Rheum officinale, an ethnomedicinal plant, has roots widely employed in modern pharmacological formulations. However, many of its biological activities remain only partly recognized. Furthermore, the metabolome and biological activity of its edible petioles, often considered a waste product, have received limited scientific attention. Methods and Results: The examination of anti-inflammatory properties of both root and petiole extracts (1–50 µg/mL) revealed the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine release from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a reduction in ALOX5 gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and the significant inhibition (>60%) of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase activities. Importantly, no cytotoxic effects were detected at the tested concentrations. Conclusions: The petiole extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory efficiency comparable to, or exceeding that of the root extract, suggesting that R. officinale petioles could be valuable source of bioactive compounds for future investigations.
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    The Effects of a Cultivar and Silicon Treatments on Grain Parameters and Bioactive Compound Content in Organic Spring Wheat
    (MDPI, 2025) Kowalska, Iwona; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Mołdoch, Jarosław; Pawelec, Sylwia; Radzikowski, Paweł; Feledyn-Szewczyk, Beata
    To address the need for improved nutritional value of organically grown wheat, this study investigated the impact of silicon treatments (AdeSil, ZumSil) on yield, health status, and bioactive compound content in spring wheat cultivars. The 2019–2020 research evaluated different application variants: seed dressing, foliar sprays, and their combinations. Comprehensive seed dressing combined with two foliar treatments, (variant B) and two foliar treatments (variant C), significantly increased yield (by an average of 8.9% and 7.6% vs. control, respectively). These variants beneficially affected fungal disease resistance mainly in the stressful 2019; in optimal 2020, they showed no clear advantage over the control, which performed similarly or better. Seed dressing (variant D) increased total phenolic acids (PAs) content and antioxidant activity, with the spelt cv. Wirtas exhibiting the highest levels. Silicon treatments modified alkylresorcinols (ARs) content, but effects depended on the year, cultivar, and application variant, not always exceeding the control. Silicon treatments, especially when applied in combination (seed dressing and foliar application), can improve spring wheat yield and favorably modify PAs content, enhancing grain nutritional value. However, the plant response regarding health status and ARs content is strongly conditioned by cultivar specificity and the prevailing environmental conditions of the growing year.
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    Wound Healing Potential of the Salvianolic Acid H and Yunnaneic Acid B—The Rosmarinic Acid Derivatives: Anti-Inflammatory Action and Hemocompatibility In Vitro
    (MDPI, 2026-01-28) Liudvytska, Oleksandra; Krzyżanowska-Kowalczyk, Justyna; Kowalczyk, Mariusz; Bandyszewska, Magdalena; Skowrońska, Weronika; Bazylko, Agnieszka; Kolodziejczyk-Czepas, Joanna
    Phenolic acids of plant origin are recognized as key bioactive compounds with potential for both internal and topical applications. Although some of these phytochemicals are used for skin care and to improve wound healing, oligomeric derivatives of rosmarinic acid (RA) remain poorly characterized in this context. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of salvianolic acid H (SA H) and yunnaneic acid B (YA B) in experimental models related to wound-healing, specifically in skin cells (HaCaT keratinocyte and NHDF fibroblast lines), THP1-ASC-GFP monocytes, and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Both SA H and YA B reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine release from HaCaT, NHDF, and PBMCs with efficacy comparable to or exceeding that of RA. Analyses of intracellular pathways of inflammatory response revealed that SA H and YA B were also efficient inhibitors of inflammasome formation in THP1-ASC-GFP reporter cells. Furthermore, SA H showed significant inhibitory effects on the activities of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (IC50 = 11.53 µg/mL and 2.41 µg/mL, respectively). None of the examined acids influenced the hemostatic system at concentrations of 1–5 μg/mL. At 50 μg/mL, a slight increase in plasma clotting rate was observed for SA H and RA. These findings indicate that SA H and YA B, two naturally occurring oligomeric derivatives of RA, exert significant anti-inflammatory activity and represent promising agents for further studies on their use to improve wound healing.